setting

[ set-ing ]

noun

1. the act of a person or thing that sets.
2. the surroundings or environment of anything:

   The garden was a perfect setting for the house.

3. the mounting in which a jewel is set.
4. a group of all the articles, as of china, silver, or glass, required for setting a table or a single place at a table.
5. the locale or period in which the action of a novel, play, film, etc., takes place:

   The setting of this story is Verona in the 15th century.

6. Also called stage setting, the scenery and other properties used in a dramatic performance.
7. Music.
   1. a piece of music composed for certain words.
   2. a piece of music composed for a particular medium, or arranged for other than the original medium.

setting

/ ˈsɛtɪŋ /

noun

1. the surroundings in which something is set; scene
2. the scenery, properties, or background, used to create the location for a stage play, film, etc
3. music a composition consisting of a certain text and music provided or arranged for it
4. the metal mounting and surround of a gem

   diamonds in an antique gold setting

5. the tableware, cutlery, etc, for a single place at table
6. any of a series of points on a scale or dial that can be selected to control the level as of temperature, speed, etc, at which a machine functions
7. a clutch of eggs in a bird's nest, esp a clutch of hen's eggs

Other Words From

• non·setting adjective
• un·setting adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of setting¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; Middle English; set, -ing ¹

Synonym Study

See environment.

Example Sentences

The study will test the drug against a placebo in an outpatient setting.

From Science News

Serving the city since 1933, The Hawk offers retro cocktails in a comfortable setting.

From No Straight News

Officials offer no information on how the “business settings” were arranged.

From Voice of San Diego

The governor last week issued a new advisory to hospitals and labs, asking them to prioritize testing turnaround for individuals who are most at risk of spreading the virus to others, including those in nursing homes and congregate living settings.

From FiveThirtyEight

On Twitter specifically, account holders can review the number of active “sessions” and opt to log out other users and devices within their account settings.

From Digiday

Some refugees wait for days on the ships before setting sail.

From The Daily Beast

By setting no goals, the player must find their own purpose.

From The Daily Beast

They are made in a social setting, surrounded by lots of other people with various ways to resist bad decisions.

From The Daily Beast

So why did the God of the Hebrew people choose such a scandalous setting for becoming human?

From The Daily Beast

Although a home setting, La Domaine operates under the same regulations as other professional BDSM establishments.

From The Daily Beast

Now this setting up of an orderly law-abiding self seems to me to imply that there are impulses which make for order.

From Project Gutenberg

This judicial bent of the child is a curious one and often develops a priggish fondness for setting others morally straight.

From Project Gutenberg

In order not to weary your Majesty, I shall not dwell longer upon this, or spend time setting forth our losses.

From Project Gutenberg

Setting aside timidity, we find that well-informed persons are sometimes‌ good listeners, but no talkers.

From Project Gutenberg

The Frenchman's blade scintillated in the setting sun around Haggard's more stiffly held weapon.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• ambience
• backdrop
• context
• environment
• framework
• locale
• location
• site
• surroundings